New research has revealed the sorry state of personal hygiene of the average Briton.
Almost one in five British men admits that they do not always wash their hands after going to the bathroom. The same is true for one in ten women.
Meanwhile, a staggering third of men admit to hastily washing their hands after urinating. One in five women confessed to doing the same.
Neither sex practices perfect oral hygiene.
According to a survey of 1,000 UK adults, around 36 per cent of men say they often only brush their teeth once a day, as do 22 per cent of women.
Almost one in five British men admits that they do not always wash their hands after going to the bathroom. The same is true for one in ten women.
Dental experts say that brushing your teeth at least twice a day is essential to rid your mouth of harmful bacteria that can cause plaque and gum disease.
Studies also show that regular handwashing can reduce the risk of developing respiratory and bacterial infections by more than 20 percent.
To prevent the spread of bacteria such as E. coli, public health officials recommend washing your hands regularly with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom.
Not washing your hands can increase the risk to other people.
E. coli bacteria, found in water, often cause fever, nausea and diarrhea. Symptoms usually disappear naturally within a few days.
But experts have also long been concerned about Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), a rare strain of the microorganism that causes diarrhea.
STEC is considered to be extremely contagious and in up to 15 percent of cases, the organism can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially fatal disease that can lead to kidney failure.
Experts have long been concerned about Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), a rare strain of the bacteria that causes diarrhea. STEC is considered extremely infectious, and in up to 15 percent of cases, it can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure.
A small proportion of adults may develop a similar condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).
The study, by cosmetic brand Faith in natureIt was also found that approximately one in 10 men only bother to clean their bathroom once a month.
The same is true for one in 20 women.
And when it comes to other questionable bathroom confessions, more than a fifth of Brits (21 percent) confessed to leaving products in the shower long enough for them to become dirty or mouldy.
The survey also revealed bathroom behaviors that can be exasperating for both housemates and partners.
For example, one-third of men say they often leave an empty roll of toilet paper on the holder when the paper runs out.
About one in five women also admit to having this irritating habit.
The research was conducted with the aim of raising awareness about general hygiene and preventing diseases contracted as a result of it.
